Airport Hotel Employees Hit Hard By Pandemic-Related Layoffs

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — Devastating losses caused by travel restrictions brought on by the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in considerable layoffs and slashing of work schedules at one of Connecticut's busiest hotels.

The Sheraton Hartford Hotel at Bradley Airport filed official paperwork with the Connecticut Department of Labor last week, documenting the permanent layoffs of 78 employees. Another 13 employees had their work hours reduced by at least 50 percent, according to the documentation.

Affected employees were relieved of their duties July 9, according to the documentation.

Beginning March 17, the hotel began tgemporary, short-term furloughs and reductions in work hours due to "restrictions on business, large gatherings and travel in general." Other directives, including an expected "increased reluctance to travel even after governmental directives are further relaxed," a pause in Gov. Ned Lamont's planned Phase 3 re-opening, and mandatory self-quarantine by travelers from states with high coronavirus infection rates, "will result in a precipitous decline to already distressed levels of travel to the state and have a devastating impact on the hotel's operations," according to the documentation.

None of the affected employees are represented by a union, the letter states.

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